Book Review – Black Lies by Alessandra Torre

Black LiesYou say you’re in the mood for a romance roller-coaster, do you? Well THIS. IS. IT! And I shouldn’t have expected anything less from this author. She rocked my world twist-wise (and while I’m at it, romance-wise), with her fabulous Sex Love Repeat, and she totallllllly did it again with this one. Two AWESOME standalones, that have nothing to do with each other, but are so clever and intense, and crazy and somewhat emotionally scary with the CRAZIEST twists that make you go whaaaaaaa!!?? NO. WAY!!!! Yep!!! They both have that “feel” that is… just right. Or is it Alessandra’s writing that has a “feel”? Either way, I LOVE that!

Now I’m just going to say… go in BLIND with this one, please!!! If you’re in the mood for a crazy, twisty romance story, then don’t even bother reading the rest of this review (for now). I gave it 4.5 stars (leaning on 5 stars), so just know that I loved it, so many fellow readers loved it, and it has a few *gasp-worthy* twists that most don’t even see coming. I don’t spoil anything below, but still…. just in case my review *sparks* creative “guesses” before you get it… don’t read anything below!

Okay now for those of you that have read it, or want to know more?

This is a fantastic story, with fantastic writing, and characters you feel like you really know (but aren’t sure you like yet…).

Considering that start? I was already hating on a certain character. Couldn’t believe what I was reading, (the &%$#@!!!!) but I was SO IN!

That’s right. Turn and walk your pretty self away from this man. He will no longer touch your face. He will no longer make love to your body. He is mine. I will take your place.

Ooooooh… what the…? WHOA. Right??!

THAT is a hint at the feel of this story. Just a hint thought, ’cause it goes SO much deeper than that.

Dialogue (internal and external) all of that. Perfect. Nothing too over-the-top, even though it had that lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous soap-feel, but in perfect accordance to our reading tastes, you know? At times a bit “much”, but perfectly suited to where this story is going.

Maryse: Ooooooh funnnnn!! —> Black Lies, and I know I haven’t hit the part that has y’all freaking out so hard, but I’m almost there, and she’s just so BAD!!!! LOL!! *rubs hands together in anticipation* What am I in for!?? WAIT!!! WAIT!!! Don’t tell me. I love surprises.

Natasha: Best book ever, darling. You’re going to flip when you reach THE point in the story.

Maryse: *oooooooof!!!!* FINISHED!! I was right, and that was WAY COOL!!! Review coming tonight…

Michelle: Just started this one today. You guys are making me nervous!

Amanda: I finished last night!! I was mind blown!!!!!!

And boy does it go crazy! No worries, it ALL makes sense eventually. But… I can’t tell you anything about it. That convoluted blurb? It’s like that for a reason. It wants you to go in blind, get strapped in, and scream in angsty delight (frustrated as you envision all sorts of “things”) as it takes you on a wild ride. At times you’ll be like… UGH!!! What is her problem!!??? Why is she so *&^%$#@?!!! How… what? WHY!???

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what love entails.

I love two men. I f*@k two men.

If you think you’ve heard this story before, you haven’t.

Eeeeep!! Right? ‘Cause what the heck could that mean?

And at times you’ll be all…. UGH!!! What is his problem!!??? Why is he so *&^%$#@?!!! How… what? WHY!???

It didn’t make sense. He was too perfect. How was I the first woman to tie him down.

And then…

“He is not built for a relationship, does not have time for you. I’m coming here, woman to woman, to ask you to stay away.”

And that’s it. No more from me.

Okay a little more. I’ll give you a hint. Pure PURE sweet romance, love triangle (but of course, considering how she says she er… f@#ks two men ), deviousness, and innocence. Bad guys or good guys? Selfish, or altruistic? Erm…. I guess you just have to read it to find out. No worries, it may be crazy, but it sure is fun!

Writing? Fabulous!

Heroine? Being in her head? I had the perfect love/hate relationship with her! I was appalled. And yet, I felt as if I washer.

Storyline? Allowed to progress naturally… coming in and out of scenes, or perspectives? I forgot I was reading it… instead I was living it!

Romance? BIG! And at times, heart-hurty.

The twist? GASPWORTHY!!! And made the romance that much better when I reflected back on… er… stuff.

4.5 stars!!! <— “WHAT what whaaaaaaat!!??” I’m hearing some of you exclaim. I know… so many have given it 5 stars, and will be blown away ’cause… you know… it is pretty much… 5 stars. I’ll never forget it, that’s for sure.

But due to:

a *slight* distance in the romance part of it (I was feeling it, but it took awhile to REALLY feel it, you know what I mean?) and

except for the fact that I was even more blown away by Sex Love Repeat‘s twist (’cause I was totally blind-sided by it, and I guessed this one earlier than I should have…

and for the fact that while it was *almost* a straight-shot-read for me, but I was able to put it down a few times…

…I simply can’t give this one a higher rating than her other one. And I acknowledge that maybe it’s only my issue. Like guessing early, or not being as shocked as some were, that is. (P.S. there are a few twists so don’t get carried away with the “knowing”. It is surprising! And once the secrets are revealed, you still have NO idea how it’ll end…), but I can say it is ON the same level without a doubt.

Maybe… I was hoping for “guessing the twist”, thinking I was right, and then being blown away by being totally wrong. You know? I know… I’m asking for too much aren’t I?

Especially considering how awesomely this one played out.

I was a stupid, self-assuming girl. Sitting at that table? Smug in my confidence of ownership? I’d never been so wrong. I didn’t have him. I only owned half of him. The other half? It was living a life I knew nothing about.

I just finished this – what a great read! It got more and more gripping, and the storyline was really original. I loved the characters! Maryse, I just want to say that I enjoy reading your blog at the end of each day and you never let me down with your recommendations. This was a killer story!

I’ve enjoyed so many great books you’ve reco’d but this one just didn’t do it for me. It was a slow start and now having finished it, I’m not sure why we needed so much of her back story, her upbringing, all the whining of her pampered life and desire to break from it. IMO that aspect of her personality didn’t seem to be such a HUGE driving force for her behavior later on… she fell in love with the guy and at that point, and simply tried to hold on for the ride, even after she discovered his secret. All that other stuff about her past seemed to never really come up again (yes, forced in here and there with a line or two, but not really needed, I think). And as for him, and the big twist, I guess since I saw it coming at around 50%, I felt more impatient than anything reading the second half. I think the reveal should have come about 4 chapters earlier than it did. Maybe because I recently read *********, I felt this kinda fell short on the back end too… I think ******** did the resolution aspect of this kind of story much more realistically, and in more in-depth manner (emotionally and clinically). A good read for sure, I read it in a day in about 3 different long reading sessions, but not something I had any tingles about… not something that got to my core like others you’ve reco’d.

PS: LOVE this blog and your write ups… been reading like crazy since i found it and have loved so many of your recos. my kindle is exploding with TBRs.

I absolutely loved this book and kind of guessed the twist but as you said it did not make any difference what so ever in loving the whole package: brilliant writing, great characterisation, the twist, mystery, emotional ride and the ending.
Love your blog and the recommendations for the great books I get here. Thank you.
I love the books with a character having mental health issues, can you please recommend some books to me.

WOW! Great review, Maryse. This story was original and imaginative and her writing is spectacular. However, in spite of that, I have to say that I did not connect with Lana. At all. Brant and Lee were interesting, engaging and sexy in their own rights. Lee especially broke my heart. But Lana seemed so self-absorbed and shallow most of the time. I get it that the decisions she made were ultimately motivated by love, but I just had a hard time finding much likable about her. That said, it makes me appreciate the writing even more that I would be so unaffected by a character but so enthralled by others and by the twists in the story that I would still recommend this book! Alessandra Torre is awesome.

Just finished this one and all I can say is wow! I thought I knew the twist but boy was I wrong! Now I almost want to reread it. I’m waffling on my rating but think I’ve settled on 4.5. I should probably give it 5 just from the fact I can’t stop thinking about it! Great rec!

I also had figured out the twist pretty early on, but to be fair I think that was because it was not too long ago that another book handed my a$$ to me in a similar way. So, because I don’t want to spoil anything, let’s just say this was me with this book:http://gif-jif.tumblr.com/post/33504446917/feels-boxes-faint

This book f*%*ed me over. I know the one chapter threw me for a loop; I was what the hell did I just read and what exactly did that mean?! Of course, it all made sense in time!! Awesome read and as always spot-on review Maryse!!!!

Oh maryse, I just loved this book from the first line till the last I was gone. I loved the characters the connection of the characters. I must have been the only one who couldn’t work out the secret. 40%in what the fxxx is the secret. Also Jillian’s character sensational. The billionaire storyline. This book was written for me.

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I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. [ read more ]